Category: Inventions, Innovations (wef. Feb 01sy, 2022

SAUDI ARABIA: King Salman Park inaugurates Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq Tunnel , the Middle East’s Longest Tunnel in Riyadh

The King Salman Park Foundation Board of Directors announced the completion of the Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq Tunnel, a significant milestone that promises to enhance traffic flow and reduce congestion in Riyadh.

This tunnel, the first to be completed since the initiation of the King Salman Park project in the third quarter of 2021, represents a critical component of the extensive development efforts led by King Salman Bin Abdulaziz and the Crown Prince, which were first announced on March 19, 2019.

Spanning 2,430 meters from north to south beneath the expansive King Salman Park, the Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq Road Tunnel stands as one of the longest in the Middle East.

Its completion is a testament to the ambitious infrastructure development underway, including the construction of additional tunnels on Al-Oruba Road. Specifically, a new 1,590-meter tunnel will link with the existing 840-meter tunnel along Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq Road, creating a unified pathway designed to streamline vehicle movement.

Starting Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, the tunnel will open to vehicles, offering three lanes in each direction and an emergency lane, all equipped with advanced traffic management and safety systems, including emergency services and evacuation routes.

The architectural design of the Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq Road Tunnel is inspired by the concept of Salmani architecture. It integrates seamlessly with the natural and geological aesthetics of Riyadh, featuring interior designs that mimic the city’s rock formations. The choice of sustainable materials and colors that complement the local environment underscores a commitment to ecological and aesthetic considerations.

King Salman Park, covering an area of over 16 square kilometers, is poised to significantly elevate Riyadh’s global stature, aiming to position the city among the world’s most liveable. The park will not only offer the largest green space in Riyadh but also an array of cultural, arts, entertainment, sports, recreational, commercial, and residential facilities. Highlights include the Royal Arts Complex, the Visitor Pavilion, and several museums, collectively redefining urban park experiences in the region.

By offering a diverse range of attractions and amenities, King Salman Park is set to become a pivotal destination for citizens, residents, and tourists alike, promising new lifestyle options that enhance the quality of life and offer memorable experiences.

source/content: saudigazette.com.sa (headline edited)

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Spanning 2,430 meters from north to south beneath the expansive King Salman Park, the Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq Road Tunnel stands as one of the longest in the Middle East.

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SAUDI ARABIA

ALGERIA inaugurates Mosque ‘Djamaa El Djazair’ ahead of Ramadan 2024 with World’s Tallest Minaret and the 3rd Largest Mosque in the World

Algeria has finally inaugurated Africa’s largest mosque featuring world’s tallest minaret after years of delay.

The mosque with a minariet standing at 265 metres (869 feet) is being inaugurated ahead of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan.

Known as Djamaa El Djazair, the mosque reportedly cost close to $900m to build and was constructed by a Chinese firm.

The mosque is the the third largest in the world after the holiest sites in Makkah and Madinah and the largest in Africa.

It is located in the al-Mohammadiya area of Algiers and extends to an area of 200,000 square meters. The area of the prayer halls alone will be about 215,000 square feet.

The Great Mosque will also have a library, a conference center, a house of Quran, a museum and a research center.

source/content: cceonlinenews.com (headline edited)

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ALGERIA

BAHRAIN Grand Prix Wins F1 Award for Innovation

• 2023 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix wins Event Innovation Award at F1 Promoter Awards in London, which recognises exceptional achievements of Formula 1 venues across the world.

• Award recognized several key innovations at Bahrain International Circuit, including the establishment of an industry-leading solar facility.

The 2023 Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix has won The Event Innovation Award at the F1 Promoter Awards in London. The ceremony recognizes key achievements of F1 venues across the world, with Bahrain picking up the award for a number of industry-leading innovations over the last twelve months. These included key sustainability initiatives as well as technology developments in areas including race control and traffic management.

The awards themselves are arranged and judged by Formula 1, the commercial rights holder of the sport. Categories are open to all Formula 1 venues from across the world, with a shortlist of three circuits announced in advance of the awards ceremony. Arif Rahimi, Chairman of Bahrain International Circuit, collected the award on behalf of BIC, which was presented by F1’s Chief Commercial Officer, Emily Prazer. The awards ceremony was attended by other senior BIC management, as well as Formula 1 promoters and partners from around the world.

The Event Innovation award was presented to the F1 venue which demonstrated the most significant innovation in their event delivery, commercial product offering or infrastructure. Announcing The 2023 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix as the overall winner, the judges recognized several key innovations at BIC, including:

• BIC’s industry-leading solar production facility: In its first year of operation the solar park at BIC produced over 5 million KWH of clean energy, enough renewable energy to cover all the usage for F1 with significant capacity to spare, the equivalent of offsetting 3,108 tonnes of carbon.

• Innovative energy saving measures: In 2023, BIC undertook a number of measures to reduce energy consumption. This has included a new building management system that efficiently monitors and manages light and air conditioning provision, an upgrade to more efficient air conditioning chillers and the replacement of all street and building lighting to LED lights. BIC’s combined energy saving measures saved over 30% in energy use over the year.

• Innovative technology in race control: In 2023, BIC installed a first of a kind system in the world that links flag digital panels on track to cameras in race control – with the specific camera automatically highlighting the relevant flagged area of the circuit. This saves officials in race control crucial time when looking into incidents.

• Digitalization: BIC introduced digitalized directional signage for fans coming into the circuit, enabling better proactive and efficient management of traffic, which reduced overall traffic queues and alleviated the need for printing materials for temporary signs.

source/content: bahraingp.com (headline edited)

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Promoter Awards

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BAHRAIN

SAUDI ARABIA’s ‘Saline Water Conversion Corp.’ (SWCC) garners 9 Guinness World Records for Sustainable Desalination Innovations 

Sustainable desalination technology in Saudi Arabia has achieved global recognition, with the Kingdom’s Saline Water Conversion Corp. receiving nine Guinness World Records.   

In a ceremony at the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture headquarters in Riyadh, the company was awarded a certificate for its multi-effect distillation water desalination plant. This facility, with a daily capacity of 92,000 cubic m., is recognized as the largest in the world.  

In December 2021, the organization unveiled its roadmap for achieving environmental sustainability at a major international industry conference. By being awarded the record for the lowest energy consumption for a water desalination plant globally, SWCC has taken a significant step toward fulfilling its Saudi Green Initiative action plans.  

Saudi Arabia, considered one of the most water-stressed countries globally, is implementing various measures to ensure water security, a foundational element for the socioeconomic transformation outlined in the Vision 2030 plan.  

The actions include reducing water demand through optimizing agricultural production and increasing water supplies via expanded desalination and storage capacity. Additionally, water system resilience will be enhanced through the implementation of transmission and interlinkage projects, as outlined in a report by the nation’s desalination company.  

During the ceremony, the company was recognized for achieving a record for the largest water storage facility, the Riyadh Strategic Water Reservoir, with a capacity of 4.79 million cubic m.  

It also received acknowledgment for having the largest drinking water storage tank network, totaling a capacity of 8.79 million cubic m.. 

Speaking on the sidelines of the event, SWCC Gov. Abdullah Al-Abdulkarim, said: “The corporation is proud to have achieved these new records that enhance its pioneering and leadership role in the desalination industry and to continue its race with the future with deliberate and confident steps.” 

He further outlined that achieving nine new Saudi records in the Guinness resulted from continuous development, research, and innovation efforts. This success reflects a strategy emphasizing increased business efficiency through technology harnessing, capability empowerment, and knowledge localization. 

“Our vision expands today in the desalination industry, so that our ambitions exceed the horizons of competing for record achievements to making a change, making a difference, and exporting Saudi leadership to the world,” added Al-Abdulkarim. 

source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)

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A ceremony to mark the records was held at the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture headquarters in Riyadh. Supplied

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SAUDI ARABIA

OMANI Students Create Device to produce Water from Air

A smart device designed and created by Omani students has gained attention for its ability to squeeze water out of air. The students claim purity of the water extracted from air has been scientifically proven to be safe for drinking.

The student team from the National University of Science and Technology, called Skydrop Company consists of Mona al Kharousi, Hiba al Shuaibiya, Qusay al Jadidi, Safaa Yahya al Naabi, Maad al Harasia, Moadh Saif al Rashdi, Al Mutamin Suban al Balushi and Naglaa bint Habib al Amriya.

Describing the rational behind the project, Mona said, “We wanted to create an easy-to-use product for athletes, adventurers and travellers, who sometimes face challenges related to the availability of drinking water.”

She added that the device works on user-friendly technology, is low cost and has sustainable environmental characteristics.

“It is made of environmentally friendly reinforced plastic and can be charged using electricity or solar energy.”

According to Mona, the device is small and lightweight and works to convert air into water in an innovative way, producing water from the surrounding moist air.

“Water vapour is condensed by cooling and then turned into dew to reach the last stage of the sedimentation process and conversion into pure drinking water.”

Mona explained that the device will contribute significantly to solving the problem of environmental pollution from plastic, which has become widespread because of bottled drinking water that are difficult to decompose, in addition to finding an innovative environmental solution to achieve water security.

About the challenges the students faced while giving shape to their project, Mona said, “The lack of capital is the toughest challenge for this project in addition to difficulty in sourcing certain parts for it.”

Skydrop Company is currently working to make a bigger version of the device to deploy in the agricultural sector, especially in the desert. “The team aspires to be a leader in creating modern technologies for the production of potable water that are suitable is different environmental conditions.”

source/content: muscatdaily.com (headline edited)

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OMAN

   

EGYPT: 79 Cairo University Scholars among Best Scientists in Stanford University report

A total of 79 scientists from Cairo University are among a list of 160,000 scientists whose practical opinions are cited in various specializations with a (2 percent). 

President of Cairo University Dr. Mohamed Othman Elkhosht received a report on Stanford University’s announcement of a list of scientists whose practical opinions are cited in various specializations with a (2 percent), featuring about 160,000 scientists from 149 countries, based on the Scopus database, in 22 scientific specializations, and 176 sub-specialization for distinguished researchers.

Dr. Elkhosht announced that the Stanford list included a large number of Cairo University scientists, with a total of 79 scientists on the two lists, whether the total from 2011 to 2022, or the latest version 2023, as this year’s list included scientists from 11 colleges (an increase of 8% over the previous year).

Number of scholars featured from Cairo University in the report’s 2022 edition was 73 scholars, representing 9 of the university’s faculties, and compared to the number of 74 and 55 scholars during the previous years (2021 and 2020, respectively), Cairo University thus leads all Egyptian universities and research centers in all years from 2020 until now.

Dr. ElKhosht explained that the annual Stanford University report is an objective, external indicator of the progress of scientific research at Cairo University.

It is also a quantitative indicator for the university to identify the number of distinguished faculty members in research and a reflection of the university’s methodology, plan, applied practices, and the support that the university provides to its employees from the various colleges and institutes affiliated with it.

Dr. Mahmoud Al-Saeed, Vice President of the University for Postgraduate Studies and Research, pointed out that the report reflects the strengthening of the confidence of the international scientific and research community in our scientists in all fields and specializations, and that the results of the classification this year included two lists, the first of which is specific to the list of the total practical years 2011 – 2022 (with a total of 417 scientists), While the second included the list of last year, 2022, with a total of 817 scientists, adding that this year’s list (2023 edition) contained 926 Egyptian scientists, while last year’s list (2022 edition) included 680 Egyptian scientists from various universities and research centers, compared to 605 and 396 during the years 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Stanford University used the Scopus database of the international publisher Elsevier to extract various indicators in this list, including global scientific publishing, the number of citations, the H index, and co-authorship, all the way to the composite citation index.

source/content: egypttoday.com (headline edited)

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Cairo University – file

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EGYPT

Dubai, U.A.E : Dubai’s Wasl sets new Guinness World Records™ title for ‘Highest Running Track on a Building’

Wasl, one of the largest real estate development and management companies in the region, has set a new Guinness World Records™ title for the ‘Highest Running Track on a Building’. Wasl’s Sky Track, located on the 43rd floor of 1 Residences, the luxury residential tower within the Wasl1 master development, exemplifies Dubai’s commitment to promoting fitness and healthy living and encouraging residents to pursue an active lifestyle.

Situated 157m above the ground, Sky Track is a 335m rooftop track where fitness enthusiasts can enjoy a unique experience surpassing a traditional gym workout. Walkers and runners alike are able to enjoy unrivalled views of Dubai that include Burj Khalifa, Zabeel Park, The Dubai Frame, Sheikh Zayed Road, old Dubai, and the Arabian Gulf.

The global fitness industry has seen significant growth in recent years aligned with increased awareness of the importance of physical activity. Community events organised in Dubai such as the 30-day Dubai Fitness Challenge have succeeded in inspiring residents to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Responding to this societal shift, Wasl prioritised health and well-being in its innovative development process by building the most iconic running track in the world. 

His Excellency Hesham Al Qassim, CEO of Wasl, said: “We are delighted to achieve another Guinness World Records title for Dubai. We are humbled that Sky Track has achieved a world record, and happy that it will enhance residents’ daily lives. 1 Residences is a unique development that reflects the vision of our wise leadership in striving for excellence in all spheres. We remain steadfast in our commitment to creating projects that inspire and improve the well-being of residents and communities.” 

Talal Omar, VP – MENA & Türkiye, Guinness World Records™ said: “We are consistently delighted by the ingenuity and ambition of record holders around the world. The achievement of constructing the highest running track on a building is not just a testament to architectural prowess but also to human aspiration. It’s remarkable how boundaries are continually pushed to redefine what’s possible.

This track isn’t just a feat of engineering, but a symbol of Dubai’s commitment reaching for the skies—both literally and metaphorically. We congratulate everyone involved in this monumental accomplishment.”

This is the second time that Wasl has been recognised by Guinness World Records following its ‘Largest Aerial Projection Screen’ record, which took to the skies in celebration of ‘Year of Zayed’ in 2018 to commemorate the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Founding Father of the UAE.

1 Residences is a mixed-use development comprising 753 ready-to-move-in units. Residents can enjoy an array of exceptional dining, leisure, and entertainment facilities within the project, which also features two swimming pools, two state-of-the-art gymnasiums, a podium courtyard, children’s play areas, and BBQ pits, among many others. 

source/content: mediaoffice.ae (headline edited)

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DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E)

DUBAI, U.A.E: Dubai Civil Defence launches the World’s First Mobile Floating Fire Station

In a significant initiative that reinforces its leadership in safety infrastructure and innovation, Dubai Civil Defence has launched the world’s first sustainable mobile floating fire station.

The initiative reflects Dubai’s strategy to constantly enhance its fire and rescue services and raise environmental sustainability.

Engineered to provide high efficiency in safeguarding marine activities as well as enhanced coverage and swifter response times, the new mobile floating fire station is set to transform maritime emergency response mechanisms in Dubai. The first of its kind in the world to be sustainable and environmentally friendly, the floating structure is 70% more cost-effective than traditional marine fire stations.

Lieutenant General Expert Rashid Thani Al Matroushi, Director General of Dubai Civil Defense, said: “The deployment of the mobile floating fire station marks a significant step forward in our journey towards achieving global leadership in safety and security. The inauguration of this station not only demonstrates our dedication to generating innovative safety solutions but also aligns with our commitment to contributing to enhance Dubai’s overall infrastructure and services. A significant enhancement to our marine firefighting capabilities, this facility makes Dubai a frontrunner in reducing response times to maritime incidents, with a target response time of just four minutes.”

The launch of the floating station also increases the safety index in maritime navigation and water channels in Dubai with the use of innovative smart solutions, Al Matroushi added. The station’s strategic deployment will ensure comprehensive coverage across Dubai’s maritime and navigational zones that are crucial elements of the emirate’s geography, significantly enhancing Dubai’s responsiveness to accidents at sea, he noted.

Designed with sustainability at its core, the station embodies Dubai’s commitment to environmental conservation while maintaining the highest standards of safety and efficiency. With the capability to accommodate 16 individuals, the building stands out for its eco-friendly design. Operating as a mobile marine station, the floating structure eliminates the necessity for dedicated land space, resulting in both cost savings and a significant contribution to reducing carbon footprint and preserving green spaces. Additionally, the floating building showcases mobility with a notable speed of 11 miles per hour.

As Dubai continues to grow as a major hub for maritime trade and tourism, the floating fire station demonstrates the high priority the emirate’s leadership places on driving greater safety innovation and excellence. Through the implementation of innovative solutions and the latest technologies, Dubai Civil Defense continues to provide world-class fire and rescue services, contributing to Dubai’s vision of becoming a global leader in safety and security.

source/content: wam.ae (headline edited)

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DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E)

EGYPT’s Rod al-Farag Axis featured in Guinness World Records as Widest Suspension Bridge

Egypt received on Wednesday a Guinness World Records’ certificate on Rod al-Farag Axis Bridge (Tahya Misr Bridge) passing over the Nile, for being the widest suspension bridge in the world at a width of 67.36 meters.

Guinness World Records website has not yet published news about the new Egyptian record-holder.

Regional Director for the Guinness World Records in the Middle East and North Africa region Talal Omar handed over the certificate to Mohamed Mohsen Salah, President and CEO of Arab Contractors company.

President Abdel Fatah El Sisi attended Wednesday the opening of Rod el Farag Axis Bridge, int the presence of Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouli, Presidential Adviser for National and Strategic Projects Sherif Ismail, Transport Minister Kamel el Wazir and a number of high-ranking state officials.

The Arab Contractors, a leading construction company in the Middle East and Africa, officially requested that Rod El-Farag Axis sets a record in the Guinness Book of World Records, said Ahmed Makled, chief executive manager of B Premium, the official partner of Guinness Records in Egypt.

Rod El-Farag Axis (TahyaMisr Bridge) links areas in northern and eastern Cairo with west Cairo. The Egyptian government said that the bridge, which aims to ease traffic and reduce commuting time, is the widest over a waterway.

Makled said that the relevant minimum limit set by Guinness is 65.235 meters, hoping that the bridge will meet other requirements and conditions set by Guinnessto become the world’s widest bridge, replacing Canada’s Port Mann Bridge, which was considered the world’s widest.

Port Mann, which has a width of 65 meters, was opened to traffic in 2012. California’s Bay Bridge was then opened in 2013, to replace Port Mann as the world’s widest. The aforementioned San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge has a width of over 78 meters.

Makled said that the TahyaMisr Bridge will seek to enter the Guinness World Records in the coming few days after it is officially inaugurated.

The construction of the flyover bridge is 100 percentcompleted, said Salah, the CEO of the Arab Contractors, adding that the bridge has been paved.

As many as 4,000 engineers, technicians and other workers have contributed to the construction of the bridge with a cost of LE 5 billion ($292.7 million), Salah said, adding that the second phase of the project costs LE 4 billion.

source/content: egypttoday.com (headline edited)

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The Arab Contractors officially requested that the Rod El-Farag Axis sets a record in the Guinness Book of World Records – Press photo

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EGYPT

ABU DHABI, U.AE./ ARAB WORLD: ’16th Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation’ announces Winners

Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation, expressed his appreciation for the patronage and the support the Award continues to receive from His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court. He also praised Sheikh Mansour’s contribution to the development of the date palm cultivation and production sector at the national, regional and international levels.

This is in addition to strengthening the UAE’s leading position through cooperation with date-producing countries and concerned regional and international organisations, where Sheikh Nahyan expressed his confidence in the efforts of the Award’s General Secretariat, which played an important role in building global partnerships to develop this sector.

Dr. Abdelouahhab Zaid, Secretary-General of the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation, announced the winners of the Award in its 16th session during his speech at the press conference held on Monday at the Emirates Palace Hotel, Abu Dhabi, in the presence of Dr. Helal Humaid Saed Al Kaabi, Member of the Award’s Board of Trustees, and Secretary-General of the Abu Dhabi Council for Quality and Conformity.

International Award Winners:

The award in the Distinguished Innovative Studies and Modern Technology category was won by Dr. Khaled Masmoudi – College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine (UAEU) for “Enzyme stabilization and thermotolerance function of the intrinsically disordered LEA2 proteins from date palm” and Dr. Ezzeldin Gadallah Hussein Ahmed – Agricultural Research Centre, Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation (Egypt), for “Phoenix dactylifera in vitro culture and transformation of Thio-60 antifungal gene via chitosan nanoparticle”.

The award in the Pioneering Development and Productive Projects category was won by Dr. Lim Swee Hua Erin – HCT (Abu Dhabi), for “Sustainable Seeds: A Tale of Two Innovations” and AFRICA ORGANICS (Morocco), for the world’s largest organic date palm plantation (1200 ha) of farmland.

The award in the Pioneering and Sophisticated Innovations Serving the Agricultural Sector category was won by Dr. Yarub Kahtan Abdul Rahman Al Doruri – University of Sharjah for “Production of powder-activated carbon from natural resources” and VALORIZEN LLC, Research and Innovation Centre (Egypt) for “Scalable, Market Driven and Climate Positive Solutions of Date Palm Waste”.

The award in the Influential Figure in the Field of Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation category was won by Dr. Ramzy Abdelrahim Dessoky Aboaiana (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) and Prof. Ibraheem Jaddoa Olelwi Al Juboori, PhD (Iraq) for “A qualitative leap and big steps”.

source/content: wam.ae (headline edited)

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EGYPT / IRAQ /MOROCCO / SAUDI ARABIA / UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E)